Family - Katekyo Hitman Reborn - Fa86

Summary: He would keep his promise to her. No matter what. Fa86 / Settimo / FabioxHaru

My lack of KHR knowledge might make some things untrue or some characters OOC!

I don't own Katekyo Hitman Reborn!

Please forgive any mistakes, both character-wise and grammatically-wise. I don't have time to re-read or edit things.

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Family

HappyFace1886

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“Papa!” an enthusiastic cry was heard within the hallway, paired with the loud stamping of feet as Daniela ran with all her might. She leaped into the air and fell into the arms of her beloved papa, preening with happiness as she buried her face into his neck. “Papa! I missed you so much!”

“As I you, my dearest,” the Vongola Settimo murmured, resting his cheek on top of her head while his normally sharpened eyes softened at the contact with his daughter. “Have you been well?”

Daniela pulled away and gave Fabio the most brilliant smile that made his heart ache. “Of course! Daniela was a good girl while Papa was away.”

Even the way she spoke...

---

“What shall we name her, dearest?” brown eyes looked up at him warmly and Fabio, his face gleaned with sweat from how frayed his nerves were, could only place a hand on his heart as he leaned against the wall. There were the soft wails of a newborn babe and he focused on that sound and the sight of her sweet smile.

He hated his weakness. Even throughout the entire organization, the whispers would always persist.

The weakest of the Vongola leaders.

Unworthy.

Pathetic.

Weak.

“Fabio?” though she sounded so weary after having gone hours of childbirth, there was still the strength and determination her voice that had always made his knees buckle around her.

He shook his head, trying to salvage his composure. This woman was too perceptive. She would notice very soon what was going through his mind. “You should name her.”

There was a chuckle and she shook her head. “No. We should name her together.”

---

“Must you always leave so frequently,” Daniela murmured forlornly, clutching tightly onto her father’s shirt. “It’s so lonely without you here.”

“There are plenty of staff members here to keep you entertain,” he tried to comfort her as he walked down the halls, but he knew the truth as well. As had he and many of the members of the family, it was difficult for them to create relationships with those of their own age, especially when they were as young as Daniela.

The right sort of people wanted nothing to do with them and the wrong sort wanted everything to do with them.

But still, keeping Daniela locked and tucked away, even for her own protection, was something she would have never condoned.

---

“Raise our child at home?” Haru gave him a belligerent scowl, her hand pressed protectively over her bulging stomach. “They need to go out and see the world! They needs to make friends with people their own age and enjoy both the joys and sorrows that the world has to offer!”

“They needs to be guarded. They won't be ordinary children.”

Haru pinched his cheek and almost laughed at how he was able to give her a look of such disapproval despite how distorted his face was. Instead, she puffed out her cheeks. “Of course, you silly fool. We will be the ones to protect them together!”

---

Together.

That was what she had promised him.

His hold around his young daughter tightened and he could already feel his eyes dampening despite the years that had passed.

They had promised each other their lives. They had promised to support one another, throughout all the hardships, the heart breaking sorrow, and the breath taking beauty. They had promised each other their futures.

And now, the only thing that lingered was this precious child who bore the same smile.

The smile that had captivated him when he had met her all those years ago.

---

He glared suspicious at the woman found within the private property of the Vongola. The Vongola Sesto had found her amusing and allowed her free range within the Vongola grounds, believing her to be harmless. However, Fabio was no fool. As a member of the Vongola Famiglia and possible candidate for Settimo, it was his duty to ensure that no harm, present and future, befell those under his protection.

“Fabio-san, Fabio-san!”

The muscle on his cheek twitched at the suffix. Also, was it not the way of the Japanese to call someone by their surname before switching to the first name? Calling him Fabio would indicate a intimacy between them that did not exist!

“Fabio-san-!”

“What?” he spoke much harsher than intended, but it did nothing to hinder the brilliance of her smile as she spun around with her arms outstretched. The sun glowed behind her and seemed to project an ethereal radiance that caused his breath to catch in his throat. He looked away, hating how hot he suddenly felt. “...what?”

“Let’s go exploring!”

---

Such child-like freedom and yet, she possessed the maturity and wisdom of someone beyond her years. Despite the masks he held and the icy gaze he possessed, she pierced right through all of them.

---

He was going to throw up. There was no doubt about it.

Fabio pressed his head against the wall, his fist grinding against it as well as he desperately tried to hold himself together. His abdomen lurched with discomfort and he felt the tell-tale shudders that indicated he was going to empty the contents of his stomach very soon.

No.

This was too soon.

“Fabio-san,” a gentle hand touched his shoulder and he smacked it away, leaping backwards to create room. Breathing harshly with one hand clutching his chest tightly, he saw Haru looking at him sadly. She was dressed in black. Another sign of the mourning progression. “Fabio-san, everyone is waiting...”

“Shut up,” he snapped hoarsely.

“Fabio-s-.”

“I am not ready!” he turned away from her, feeling sick all over again. “I am not worthy! I... I don’t deserve to be the Settimo!”

“Why?” her calm words pierced through his haze of anxiety and in that brief moment, he felt everything stop. Freezing, he slowly lifted his head and saw Haru gazing at him with her usual calm presence. “Why is Fabio-san not worthy?”

“I...” the words seemed to come out by themselves. “I am weak. I am...”

“-the one who defeated all of the possible candidates to be the next head.” Haru crossed her arms. “You are the one who led the Famiglia to victory during the Throne Wars against the families that opposed us. You are the one who created and reaffirmed our bonds with the brothers of this family. And now, you will be the leader who will take this family up another step, to a new world of Vongola!”

The faith she had in him struck him hard and, as always around this infuriating woman, he found himself to be at a loss of words.

He almost flinched when she placed a hand on the side of his face, her warm and gentle touch lulling him to turn his face into it, to kiss the palm of her hand in a silent word of thanks. Instead, he stared into her eyes as she spoke with a confidence he didn’t have.

“You are ready.” She whispered. “You are worthy.”

Was it just him or was the gap between them growing smaller?

“You are,” he could feel her breath mingling with his, “the Vongola Settimo, Fabio-san.”

---

“Papa, too tight,” the muffled complaint brought him out of his thoughts and he pulled away to see Daniela giving him a light disgruntled frown. The scowl immediately turned into concern when she saw his watered eyes. She reached out and placed a hand on his cheek, staring deeply into his eyes. “What’s wrong Papa? Are you hurt?”

Fabio quickly shook his head, wiping his eyes with the sleeve of his shirt. “No, I’m fine, my darling. Just a little something in my eye.”

Daniela gave him a skeptical look and sighed instead, looking much too haughty for a young seven year old. “Of course. Papa is so helpless without Daniela.”

He chuckled and was glad that it didn’t sound hoarse. “That papa is...”

“Good thing Mama told me to take very, very good care of Papa.”

Fabio almost stumbled at her words.

How did she-?

---

“Haru!” Fabio yelled, struggling to break away from the multiple men that held him back. There was a look of pain on her face. He could see how she struggled to breathe! Why was he held away while his wife was suffering? “Let me go, you fools!”

“Please, Settimo,” one of his Guardians pleaded. “Get a hold of yourself!”

“Does this look like the right time for something like that?” he demanded, struggling harder. Despite the ruckus, he heard her chuckle and hated how faint it sounded, so weak and devoid of the strength he heard only seconds ago.

“Ah, your papa always worried too much,” he heard her murmur while holding their newborn, Daniela, close to her chest.

“Something’s not right,” he heard the mid-wife whispering frantically to her aid. “She’s bleeding too much!”

“But...” Haru’s small frame shuddered as she ran a hand down the spine of her crying child. “It’ll be alright. Haru knows Daniela will take good care of Papa while she’s away.”

“Don’t say that!” he roared, knocking half of his Guardians away as he forced his legs to make their way towards her. His hand was outstretched, desperately reaching out for her, as each word was stamped out with each step. “Don’t. Say. You’ll. Be. Away! I forbid it!”

Haru tilted her head so that she would able to see him and he felt his strength falter when he saw how pale she was. Tears trailed down the side of her face as she gave him the brilliant smile he had come to cherish. “Take care of her... my love.”

---

“Daniela?” he asked with uncertainty.

“And Daniela will keep her promise to Mama,” she said proudly and looked up at him with radiant grin.

He stared at her, unable to formulate the proper response. Instead, Fabio did his best to give a bright smile of his own. “As will I, little one.”

---

::owari::

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AN: Okay... this was not what I had in mind for the post for this week, but it happened. I actually wanted to update Ambigram or Genesis, but my muse seems to have left temporarily. Also, after a review in the fanfic, Obsession, I got stuck thinking a lot about possible oneshots with Haru and the other Vongola leaders. @x@

While day-dreaming about what to write, I always found it interesting that people said that the Vongola Settimo had the weakest flames out of all the Vongola leaders. I also wondered how it would affect him personally, hence the depiction of him above. I guess my muse went ablaze while thinking about that.

I'll try to update Ambigram next week since Genesis already had an update. Hope this is good enough to suit your needs for~~~!

Until then~!